Crowd first to hear motorsports plans

Saturday

Mar 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A meeting to inform the public about a preliminary plan to develop a motorsports park in Tuscarora Township drew well over 100 people Thursday night.

A meeting to inform the public about a preliminary plan to develop a motorsports park in Tuscarora Township drew well over 100 people Thursday night.The meeting was requested by Mark Hall, who would like to develop the park near Indian River. Although Hall has not yet submitted a special use permit or rezoning application to the Cheboygan County Planning Commission, he asked the Tuscarora Township Planning Commission to hold the special meeting so he could explain his tentative plans to the public and hear suggestions.Hall is the president of Monster Energy’s Beverage Division, but said his company is not involved in his plans to develop the park. He is originally from Indian River, and owns property between S. Straits Highway and Chippewa Beach Road that includes a former gravel pit. The area is known to some as Griswold Mountain.At Thursday’s meeting, Tuscarora Township Planning Commission member Mike Sherman introduced Hall.“Mark did not have to do this,” Sherman said, referring to having the informational meeting. “He took the time to come from California.”Hall introduced Tim Cotter, director of MX Sports. Hall explained that Cotter has produced hundreds of motocross racing events in small towns and large cities across the country, and currently oversees 12 of the biggest races in the world.Cotter said MX Sports is involved with ATV racing, youth motorcycle racing, off-road motorcycle racing and motocross, which takes place on a track.He stressed that Hall had not yet hired him to produce a race, but was in attendance to help the public better understand the sport.“Mark’s vision is to put this place on the map as a world-class facility,” Cotter said. “If he is able to do what it is he wants to do, it will certainly be like no other place in Michigan, and it may be like no other place in the world. With his vision and expertise, he can have a successful event.”Cotter explained that motorsports have proven to be successful in resort communities, and races have a significant economic impact on the communities they are held in and near. Motorsports enthusiasts are passionate, and racers are serious about the sport.“It’s a lifestyle (for them),” Cotter said. “When they find a great spot (to race), they love it and they come back.”Hall said his plans involved cutting a new entrance and access drive off S. Straits Highway to access the park, and noted that the track would be located in the former gravel pit and ravines on the property. He said his plan did not involve accessing the property from Chippewa Beach or Waubun roads.Although Hall provided drawings showing a preliminary layout of his proposed facilities, many questions were asked by audience members about the number of events that would be held. Hall said he was unsure, but would start with one, which would have to be promoted to racers, spectators and sponsors.Several audience members said they were in favor of the park if races were only held occasionally and not every weekend. Hall, who lives elsewhere, said that was not his intention.“I don’t want to be up here running this every weekend,” Hall said. “I am just trying to bring in something that will help the community.”Cotter said that medical and police support could be brought in from outside sources if enough personnel were not available locally. Some local jobs would be created, he noted.Hall explained that an RV parking area and tent camping area were also included in his plans.Cotter said most of the races he has organized are 30-plus years old and were still embraced by the communities they were held in.Concerns about a negative impact on property values was voiced by Sharon Roddy, although Hall and Cotter said many enthusiasts prefer to live near a race venue.Hall said a large home on the property may be turned into a clubhouse for events.A few expressed concerns about the noise that would be generated, both from the races and from the crowds of possibly 20,000 the events could draw. Others said they are unable to hear activities on the site now and were in support of the plan.Cotter and Hall said bikes would only operate in daylight hours.Pat McGinnis said he had experience working on a variety of racetracks and said vehicles are much louder than motorcycles in racing. He noted that some boats that come through the nearby lake and river are much louder than the bikes.“The people (that race and watch races) will leave, but their money will stay here,” McGinnis noted.Jess Miller asked if local vendors would be allowed to sell concessions or items at races. Cotter said organizers typically try to source as much as they can locally, although in certain cases there are nationwide contracts that must be honored.Tom Powers asked how the traffic would be handled on the area’s two-lane roads. Cotter noted that for a race between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., traffic was typically heavy for two to three hours before and after the race. No road enhancement plans were presented.Indian River Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Tucker said the business community was in support of the plans according to the results of a recent survey. He also asked if Hall would consider extending the townships sewer from River Street to his property, but Hall said he would not have a need for that service initially.Hall stressed that his motives were not financial gain, but rather to benefit the area.“I have no illusions that I will make money in the first couple of years,” Hall noted. “I am not here trying to get rich. I am trying to fulfill my emotional attraction to the community.”

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